Back siphonage prevention valve



April 3, l945- c. E. ELLIS l A 2,372,9.4

BACK SIPHONAGE PREVENTION VALVEl Filed April 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l l j 52 I 5f E INVENTOR. CLARE/VCE 4. ELL/5.

' Afro/@yar April 3, 1945. C, E. ELLIS 2,372,940

BACK SIPHONAGE PREVENTION VALVE Filed April 7,. 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR. CL4/@wmf E iL/5 Arro//YEK 1 Patented Apr. 3, 1945 la[11NIrrel) einem sreHoNAGEz PBEMENTIDNL'VALVE i 'Clarence EiiEllis, LesfAngeiesjfoelif. @Applicata-Oumma' 7, 1941i;seriehnefest213 l ll'Claims.

21Min inventionfrelates' -to `a :heele siphonfagetprelevention riva/Ive er1-valve structure.

E Onewfthe principalI objects ofthis invention isnrto" provide a valve vof' llthis class. whiehlwhen Y 'insertedl'im a water or other-'Imain-,rasw` a- 1 'service l Valve to aeresidenoe; f manufacturing# plant;j oil/the l* like,A wllprevent the-back oworlreturn'of rwater Y ^-irornthe yresidence1,-plant, orthe like-'if the water pressure4 at' thelatter locationl` becomesf greater i than in Jthe mainor fif'fthe'-pressure in the=laltter M dropsbelow?the'pressure in the former.

1#An'otlfi'er important obiectfo this vinventionris -lto -p'rovide-` a- Valve :of 'this class' having4 a'double valve at thefin'let andout-letiloffthestnicf-ture for normally shutting "foff both finlet* and f outlet, but/ allowing water' fto 4flowv -`from the* inlet tof the l'outlet,` and which will' v causeL 'another-or 1"-bleedervvalve'ltemporarily or permanently-toppen when thef pressure 'at"the outletvendi is greater :than at theinlet-e'nandwhen the-check 'val-veY atfthe outlet ordischarge end-leaks.

Anisimportantf object 'Salsoof thisin-ventionl is to provide avalve strubtureof 1tlnselass having fa manualsmeans for shutting-ff bothffinletland -=outlet at allrv events;` and for operating'ithbleeder valve for the purposes mentioned.

LA? `further"important"objectoiT-this :invention is --tovprovde alvlve of this ela'ssvlhioh-isl1provided withiaie-vacuum" breaker valve 'in '-assooiation with l e=b1eeder fveive; te facilite-teme functioning Voflv 30 the latter, and in which the latter or bleedervalve is combindfWith-l afvacuum breakerwlvefor si- -IniiltaneousV operationf of Ithetwd latter valves.

another object" of this "invention is to' provide a. novelly constructed and operastdf-diaphragm" valve- WhichY` serves f as I a rliiltiplekseat "checkv and shut-i-'i/alve.

*A stillf further object of l v`this inventionH-isito vprovide avalve of thisclass which is particularly f simple; economicalgidurable; and 'Tleient--i manufacture and operation, and which will notireadyily'get outf order.

"With fth'ese"l arid-- othefblrjectsy in 4fview; as" will appear hereinafter; I haveidevised abaclesiphoni' age preventionlvalverstru'cture,"having -eertin' novel features' of 'construction;"combinations and 'arrangementof parts and portions lforrperform- Y"ing'the intended- Efunctions; asiu'iillbe" hereinafter "the asccompanyingidravvings andtto thefchar- 'ecters onrference th'ereom# Whichfffox-m'- ai part of this application; inllwhich:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View in plan 'ofmy valveN fin eaf-preferredfvform circensi-motion; with@apor-*f5 willfbedescribed-L'hereafter," thel'lower housing member being'providedwvith' anwaxial'ibore la fonsuolivalve. `"At one side'i'of the'jl'ow'er easing 25" membertis provided Aen"o11t`l'et or 'discharge' nonneetion"'lb. YAt' the sicleo 'the' housing member floppositelthe discharge ennnection'of themem- 'ber: `I j., is 'loca'ted a vacuum* breaker" valve, zas' will Libe -also' described hereafter. r'Iheupper'"housing meinlerY Zhas a* boss*2.having"an` axialb'oreid ii toA loeate'the .vacutmi' breakerY valve and to" conneo'ti'th interior.- of'thehbusing'with"the' atmosf'phere.

"` Inlthe bore "l a 'is irecipr'ocably mounted :the stem Bafthe'bleeder v'alveQS; the valve portion being #40 diaphragm"valve"'consists"of a; diaphragm* 5^supl ported'at'its Va'xialpertion on` affiangetlla 'atthe "uppef'end of the `tubular m'eihber or stem 4. `This diaphragm is"se'cured tolthe'upper endof the r tubular stern by means of a dise Gythediaphr'agm "-f being forced' against: then-undersiaefef the-dise `by"pressm'e'Lfrom -Within 'theva'lve' housing. At rand around `thein-nen'end of'the'boreb is'pro- "vided a `valve seat: Itlwhich uis adapted 'to be engagd byI ani annular--valvenfember'f 8' 'earri'd'fin ofafvalvef holder-9. fThe I-val've-rnenib'er' 8 is'gided with respect to its seat 'I by means oa'fguide secure d" tof vthe L'upper yend' -fJ and' -lcoaxially -with `the valveholder. ifhe'valverv holder 9 liras'L ald'own- 'lfvvardly extendiiigfstem fl le arouxdlwhiohis-placed -ee'cbnfsp'rmg l2; Lmeurthestemt llf-eridethefeeil spring I2 being located within the hollow portion which is located at the axial portion and upper end of the valve stem 4.

The peripheral portion of the diaphragm is adapted to seat against a plurality of closely positioned concentric seats or ridges 2| at the inner side of and diametrically outwardly from the seat 'I but inwardly from the secured portion of the upper housing member 2. At the underside of the peripheral portion of the diaphragm, which., is adapted to` engage the seats 2|, is a ring 22, whereby the diaphragm is forced against the seats 2|. Within the housing are pivoted a plurality of levers 23 which are provided at their inner ends with weights 23a. The outer ends 23b of these levers are adapted .to engage the under side of the ring 23. Intermediate the ends of the levers 23, and at the'opposite sides thereof are knife-edge trunnions 23c which support the levers in v-shaped grooves at the upper ends of spaced lugs 24.

The lower housing member I has a pair of spaced depending brackets 3| which are positioned at the opposite sides of the bore I a. Be-

tween the brackets 3| is pivoted a weighted valve Aportion 32b which is adapted to engage the lower end of the stem 3a of the bleeder valve. The ,stem 3a is preferably iiuted or otherwise longitudinally undercut to permit fluid to pass outwardly or drain from the interior of the valve past the stem of the bleeder valve 3a.

At the inner end of the bore |EL is an annular valve seat 33 which is adapted to be engaged by the annular valve member 3b carried byy the valve portion of the bleeder valve 3.

At the inner end of the bore 2d is an annular valve seat; 4| which is adapted to be engaged by an annular valve member 42EL carried by the vacuum breaker valve 42. The Valve 42 is secured to the upper end of a stem 43 by a guide 44 which is guided axially in the bore 2d of the boss 2C.. is a collar 45 which is adapted to be engaged at the upper side by one end of a lever 46 pivoted intermediate its ends within the housing. The other end of the lever 46 is adapted to be engaged by the upper side of the valve portion of the bleeder "valve 3. Thus, when the bleeder valve is raised, the vacuum breaker'valve is forced downwardly and away from'its seat 4|.

The purpose of the vacuum breaker valve is to break the vacuum in the valve housing to permit proper function of the bleeder valve.

Over the upper end of the bore 2d is provided va cap 41, the same being secured to the upper end of the boss 2 To the outlet end of the valve housing, namely `normal operation of the valve, that is, when Intermediate the ends of the stem 43v water fiows from the inlet to the outlet, the valve 8 is forced against the compression of the spring I2 and unseated, permitting the water to unseat the peripheral portion of the diaphragm valve 5 from the circular seats 2|; the water then ows through the discharge connection |b through the check valve 5|. Although these valves are normally closed by spring or gravity action, they are forced to their closed positions by difference of fluid pressure, namely, if the pressure of the water in the service line B, connected with the check valve 5|, should be increased above that of the pressure in the main A, or if the pressure in the main should drop below that of the service line,

In the event of such difference of pressure, either by greater pressure at the bottom of the diaphragm or less pressure at the top, the diaphragm will be forced tightly against its multiplicity of seats, and the center portion of the diaphragm will beraised, opening the bleeder valve 3 and the vacuum breaker valve 42. The opening or raising of the valve 3 permits the weighted lever 32 to drop because of its weight. By means of the adjusting screws 35, the pivoted axis of the lever may be raised or lowered. When in a high position, the free end of the lever 32 will not be permitted to drop to such a position that the cam will lock the bleeder valve in an unseated position, but the bleeder valve will be again closed when normal pressure -is re-established. When the pivotal axis of the lever is lowered, the raised position of the stem 3a of the bleeder valve will allow the cam 32b to be located below the end of the stem 3a, locking the bleeder valve 3 and the vacuum breaker valve 42, in their open positions, and causing the peripheral portion of diaphragm to engage with greater force the concentric circular seats 2| on the housing member 2, and forcing the valve 8 to be locked in its closed position. The weighted levers 23 also add to the seating force of the diaphragm valve against the circular seats 2|.

The raised position of the lever 32, about its pivotal axis, may be limited by a pin 34, as shown in Fig. 2.

If any leak occurs past the check valve 5I into the housing, because of the greater pressure on the service side of the valve, such voverflow or leak is permitted to drain from or past the bleeder valve 3. l

- The action of the closing and openingof the various valves is similar when the weighted lever 32 is manually operated or automatically forced downwardly.

The vacuum breaker valve is particularly important when it is desired manually to force the lever 32 downwardly to unseat the bleeder valve and close the inlet, by forcing the valve 8 and the diaphragm valve 5 against their respective seats.

It will be here noted that the vacuum breaker Valve is normally closed by reason of the water pressure within tbe valve housing, and that there is little resistance to the opening of this valve when the bleeder valve is opened.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangel ment of parts and portions, I do not wish to be ,aegsvegorio inlet and an outlet, afframe reciprocablymounted 1 within,` the housing between', the inletl and foutlet, adiaphragm carried by the :frame,1said;lhousing having a multiplelseat surroundingSPtheffinl'etgl'the 4peripheral l portion of `the- 'diaphragm-being adapted toL engage said multiple seat, af-plurality of levers mounted intermediate/*theirlendsewithin the housing, the innerends Y of :the levers f being `weighted and lthe outer endsv of ftheclevers vengaging the peripheral portionF of l"the: diaphragm for urging the same against said ,multiplerseat 2.- In a valveofV the-class described, ahhousing having aninlet and an outlet'connection-,sacheck valve at the inletconnection1to"preventwater `A'from returning from lthe housing totheiinhet,l a` vbleeder valve positionedcin axialK alignment'with 'the `check valve for closingcansopeningrin the `housingopposite the inlet,za spring l'tending to separate the bleeder valve' and the' vcheclvvalve "forseating both valves; and adiaphragmvalve'D 0 coaxial with the'check valve and the loleedervalve and movable with i the latter; saidV housing having concentric seats axiallyfinwardly and.'diam'etri cally outwardly yfromV the"check=-valve, fthe;con

centric seats being engageable by theV peripheralv Iportion of the diaphragm valve', said bleedervalve being unseated when the rdiaphragm valve :is forced in the direction of the. concentric seats.

3; In a valve of the claSsdeScribed, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection, -a' check- 0 valve at the inlet connectionhto prevent water from returning from 'thehousing to the inlet, a bleeder valve positioned in axial alignment with the check valve for closing. anA opening. in the housing opposite the inlet, a spring. ,tendingto o separateLthe bleeder valve and the check valve for. seating bothV valves, adia'phragm valvecoaxial with the check valve and .thebleedervalve and movable with the latter; said housing having an annular seat surrounding the check valve, .said seat being engageable by'. theperipheral portion of the diaphragm valve, said bleeder valve being unseated when the diaphragm valve is forced in the direction of its seat.

4. In a valve 'otthegclass described; a housing having an-inlet and an outlet connection, a cheek valve at the'inlet connection to prevent Water from returning from the housing to the inlet, a bleeder valve in the housing, and a diaphragm valve operatively connected with the bleeder valve and mounted to seat with its peripheral portion around the inlet to close said inlet, a resilient connection between the check valve and the diaphragm valve, and a positive connection between the latter and the bleeder valve, whereby water pressure, at the outlet side of the diaphragm valve, will cause the latter to seal the inlet and close the check valve at the inlet and open the bleeder valve.

5. In a valve of the class described, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection, a check valve at the inlet connection to prevent water from returning from the housing to the inlet, a bleeder valve in the housing, a diaphragm valve operatively `connected with the bleeder valve and mounted to seat with its peripheral portion around the inlet to close said inlet, a resilient connection between the check valve and the diaphragm valve, a positive connection between the latter and the bleeder valve, whereby water pressure, at the outlet side of the diaphragm valve, will cause the latter to seal the inlet and close the check valve at the inlet and open the bleeder valve, and a plurality of weighted levers mounted within the housing and engaging the inner side ofalthe peripherabportion of .-the diaphragmvalve Lto" facilitate {seating-of. the same.

,.'5 nlwa Valve lof, theclass.` described, a'zhousing having anfinleuandianv outlet connection,- aicheck 5 ffzvalve: ate-.theinlet':connection tol prevent:water :dirom' returning: afromlthe housing 'toy the inlet, a .i` bleederwval-ve in. the? housing, a diaphragm valve operatively connected with V.the bleeder valve-fand amounted :mito-seat -:with its peripheral .portion around the inlet toclose'said' inlet, l andimeans .cmountedon,thehousing .in association .with the ltihleedenvalveropening, and; provided withiacam l. adaptedawhen,ltheimeans is operatedr to. hold fthe 'r bleeden valve :innnseated positionzand forcezthe f] 5-1checkva1ve1 against its seat.

2.7.1:Irnasval-ve of: the classndelscribed,I ahousing i havingianfinlet andan outlet connection,l a. check V:valveapatf ithe :inletnconnectionf to .f preventfcwater .fifrom returningzfrom-the housing to4 the inlet; a 0 s bleeder-f valve :positioned in. axial alignmentf with tathezcheck .valve-.for closing` aniopeningv in: the z housing .oppositef their inlet, i. a .spring .tendingito separateirthecl bleeder valve: .and the checkrvalve for seatinguboth valves, a, vacuum breaker Nalve y ipositionedat. one side'of .the housing iorconnect-V '.zingfthe atmosphere to the interior thereoffwhen .f the.v lattervalve is opera, and means.A connecting fthe ableeder. valvev to the vacuum:-breakerzvalvefor` uunseating theslatter when :the former-isunseated. SJiIrLa valve ofthez'class described,-.a housing :having ani rinlet and fan outletY connection; a 'fzbleederl valvesinfthe'v housing, a diaphragm! valve 1f operativelyl connected with-:the bleeder` valve"` and .f-mounted irto seatlfwithlzits peripheral' portion nr.axaroundf theainletaftoclose ksaid inlet, a: vacuum breaker valve connected to the housing for'con- 1 nectingi theaatmosphere: to ithe` interior of the A:latter whenathervalve `is open,` and meansfcon- '.nectingsthebleeder valve tothe vacuum' breaker 40 l valveforzunseating.both valvessimultaneously.

i 9.11m a .valve of lthe class describedfa'housing nhaving.y anfinlets andan outlet connection, avcheck "valve: uatr 1theV zinletl connection to prevent1water from returning" from the housing rto; theinlet; a

, bleeder valve positioned in axial alignment :with

the f-fcheck lvalvef. for closing an` opening :in nthe housing opposite the inlet, a spring tending to separate the bleeder valve and the check valve for seating both valves, a vacuum breaker valve positioned atvone side of the housing for connecting the atmosphere to the interior thereof when the latter valve is open, means connecting the bleeder valve to the vacuum breaker valve for unseating the latter when the former is unseated, and a weighted lever pivotally mounted below the bleeder valve and provided with a cani for unseating the bleeder valve and vacuum breaker valve and seating the check valve when the lever is lowered. y

l0. In a valve of the class described, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection, a bleeder valve in the housing, a diaphragm valve operatively connected with the bleeder valve and mounted to seat with its peripheral portion around the inlet to close said inlet, a vacuum breaker valve connected to the housing for connecting the atmosphere to the interior of the latter when the valve is open, means connecting the bleeder valve to the vacuum breaker valve for unseating both T0 valves simultaneously, and other means mounted on the housing in association with the bleeder valve, and provided with a cam for holding the bleeder valve and vacuum breaker valve in unseated positions.

11. In a valve of the class described, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection, a check valve at the inlet connection to prevent Water from returning from the housing to the inlet, a bleeder valve for the housing, a spring in association with the check valve and the` bleeder valve for seating both valves, and a diaphragm valve in association with the bleeder valve and movable with the latter, the peripheral portion of the diaphragm valve being normally seatable around the inlet connection.

12. In a valve of the class described, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection, a check valve at the inlet connection to prevent water from returning from the housing to the inlet, a bleeder valve for the housing, a spring in .association with the check valve and the bleeder valve for seating both valves, a diaphragm valve in association with the bleeder valve and movable with the latter, the peripheral portion of the diaphragm valve being normally seatable around the inlet connection, and means on the housing in association with the bleeder valve, and provided with a cam for holding the bleeder valve and the check valve in seated positions.

13. In a valve structure, a, housing having an inlet and an outlet, a frame reciprocably mounted within the housing between the inlet and outlet, a diaphragm carried by the frame, said housing having a seat surrounding the inlet, the peripheral portion of the diaphragm being adapted to engage said seat, a plurality of levers mounted intermediate their ends within the housing, the inner ends of the levers being weighted and the other ends of the levers engaging the peripheral portion of the diaphragm for urging the same against said seat.

14. In a valve of the class described, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection, a check valve at the inlet connection toprevent Water from returning from the housing to the inlet, a

bleeder valve in the housing, a sealing valve operatively connected with the bleeder valve, and means on the housing in association with the bleeder valve, adapted, when the means is operated, to hold the bleeder valve in an open position and hold the check valve against its seat.

Cil

. 15. In a back siphonage prevention valve, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection and also having a bleeder outlet to the atmosphere, a bleeder valve in the housing, a sealing valve for the inlet, means operatively and resiliently connecting the sealing valve with the bleeder valve, and means for manually opening the bleeder valve, said sealing valve being adapted to be held, by said resilient connecting means, in its closed position when the bleeder valve is closed.

16. In a back siphonage prevention valve, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection, a bleeder valve in the housing, a. diaphragm valve operatively connected with the bleeder valve and mounted to seat with its peripheral portion around the inlet to close said inlet, and manual means mounted on the housing in association with the bleeder valve opening, and provided with a cam adapted, when the means is operated, to hold the bleeder valve in unseated position and urge the diaphragm valve to its closed position.

17. In a. back siphonage prevention valve, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection and also having a bleeder opening to the atmosphere, a check valve at the inlet connection to prevent uid from returning from the housing to the inlet, a bleeder valve operatively connected with the check valve for closing the bleeder outlet, and spring means tending to separate said valves for holding both valves normally in their respective closed positions.

18. In a back siphonage prevention valve, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection and a bleeder outlet opposite the inlet connection, a check valve at the inlet connection to prevent uid from returning from the housing to the inlet, a bleeder valve co-axial with the check valve for closing the bleeder outlet, a sealing valve co-axial with the check valve and the bleeder valve the axial portion of the sealing valve being movable with the latter, and means for opening the bleeder valve, said bleeder valve being capable of being opened when the peripheral portion of the sealing valve is seated.

CLARENCE E. ELLIS. 

